at once?"

"Certainly," said Murray; "and let them try to stop us if they dare."

"Humph!" said Mr Braine, raising his brows a little. "You doubt then
the likelihood of the rajah's people interfering with you?"

"Excuse me for seeming rude to you in my incredulity, but I do doubt
this."

Mr Braine smiled again.

"I presume," he said, "that when your boat came up you were boarded by
the rajah's naga."

"Yes."

"And you saw that she had a well-armed crew?"

"I noticed that the men all wore their krises, and that spears were
hanging in slings from the covered-in part."

"Exactly. That boat boards every vessel that goes up or down the river,
and all pay tax or toll to the lord of this district, and have to await
his permission before they can stir."

"Then," said Murray, sharply, "you consider that we are prisoners?"

"No; I do not go so far as that, but you are in the realm of a petty
independent prince, who is something of a despot, and for your own sake
you must submit to the customs of the country."

"But this is ridiculous!" cried Murray, angrily. "Ladies, forgive me
for being so abrupt, but people from the old country resent coercion in
every form. I'll be as polite to your rajah as a gentleman should be,
but I am not going to have my plans upset by a savage. Ned, my lad,
we'll see if they dare interfere with us."

"I beg you will do nothing rashly," said Mr Braine, for Murray took a
step toward the ladies, and held out his hand smilingly.

"Good-bye," he said frankly. "I am going some distance up the river,
but I hope you will let me make your acquaintance again on our return."

"You are not gone yet, Mr Murray," said the doctor, shortly; "and I
advise you, sir, to practise prudence for both your sakes. As I
expected, here are the rajah's people; I thought that they would not be
long."

CHAPTER FIVE.

BEFORE THE RAJAH.

At the same moment that the doctor was speaking, Ned had caught sight of
something glittering in the sun above the green shrubs that bordered the
bamboo fence, and directly after that there was quite a blaze of yellow
and scarlet colour as a party of Malays reached the gate and entered the
grounds, a little group of swarthy-looking spearmen halting in the path,
while two stately-looking men, with handkerchiefs tied turban fashion
about their heads, came slowly up to the steps. The doctor descended to
meet them, and then ushered them into the verandah where they salut